OSHKOSH – With one move in the closing seconds of the first period, Oshkosh North’s Dalton Holmes earned himself the title he’s dreamed of winning the last four years.

Holmes captured the 152-pound title at the On The Water Classic wrestling tournament with an 8-4 win over Dajun Johnson of Whitefish Bay on Saturday evening, but really the match was decided well before the final seconds ticked off the clock.

As a scoreless period was wound down and the two wrestlers tried to work for the upper hand, Holmes made a spinning move that flipped Johnson right to his back. Holmes, the top seed in the tournament held him there until the end of the period to take a 5-0 lead and was able to win it from there.

“That (move) was big. That’s what won me the match really. It kind of got momentum going my way. From there I was able to slow him down and keep it in my control,” Holmes said. “He was just pushing in real hard when I had the overhook. I work that a lot. That’s what I’m really good at. When people are pushing in I use their pressure to my advantage.”

Once he got the lead, Holmes found himself in a comfortable position.

He said he was very comfortable and confident with the lead and is able to dictate the pace of the match.

“My best thing is making people slow their tempo down. Control their hands on the feet and work from there,” Holmes said. “That’s what I did, I got his hands and kind of slowed down everything he tried to do.

Holmes becomes the first Oshkosh wrestler to win a title at the On The Water Classic since Lourdes Academy’s A.J. Zemke won a title in 2010.

He won only one of his five matches by pin, but scored three decision win and one major decision. Yet, it was good enough to take home the title.

“It was great,” Holmes said about standing on top of the podium. “This was the first step to the rest of the season and definitely a huge confidence boost.”

Holmes was one of three Fox Valley Association wrestlers to claim On The Water titles as Eric Barnett of Hortonville and Beau Yinneman of Neenah.

Barnett claimed his second straight On The Water title by beating Coleman’s Caleb Gross by an 11-2 major decision for the 120-pound title.

Barnett was looking forward to a showdown with Gross – who like Barnett won a WIAA state title a year ago – after the two wrestlers didn’t see their paths cross at the Pulaski Duals earlier this season.

At this tournament, though, Barnett got his man.

“That match was very important to me. It was state champ versus state champ and I wanted to put points up on the board,” Barnett said. “I don’t get too nervous or anything like that, I kind of just do my thing and get mentally focused.”

Yinneman dominated Dylan Houts of Wabeno-Laona right from the start, scoring a series of first-period takedowns, letting his opponent up each time.

But after getting Houts down on the mat with about 30 seconds left in the opening period, Yinneman went to work on finishing the match and got his pin – and his title – with eight seconds left in the period.

“I got my takedowns and tired him out and then locked up the bar and pinned him. I was just flowing with him so it was nice to get the pin,” Yinneman said. “It always feels nice to win. The rest of the season, it builds confidence as you win. The state championships is what I want.”

A pair of champions rebounded from disappointing finishes last season to claim titles this year.

Ashwaubenon’s Cody Minor was a ninth-place finisher last year, while Random Lake’s Grayson Vandenbush took 11th, but stood atop the podium this time.

Vandenbush was whistled for stalling late in the third period to knot his 170-pound title match with Wautoma/Wild Rose’s Dillon Martin at 3 sending the bout into overtime. Martin then appeared to have Vandenbush in trouble with an ankle pick, but Vandenbush countered and got the title-winning takedown.

“He was in deep and he was driving forward. I caught my drag on that side an got behind right on the line for the takedown,” Vandenbush said. ““It feels great after last year taking 11th. I wanted to up that for sure and first is a lot nicer.”

Minor also said this year’s ending was much better as he beat top-seeded Justin Groshek of Stevens Point, 5-3, in the 106-pound title match.

“I didn’t really like how I ended up last year and I thought I was the best guy coming in and I just have to prove it,” Minor said. “I knew he was a really fast wrestler so I just had to stay active on my feet. I went up four. Third period I got a little lackadaisical and gave up some points. I just have to stay aggressive toward the end. I didn’t do it so well, but next time I will.”

Omro’s Jack Dietzen had a memorable win in the quarterfinals on Friday, positing his 100th career victory.

But his 102nd career win may be a bit more memorable as it came in a 3-1 overtime win over Amherst’s Bryce Holderman to claim the 220-pound title.

“I think I stalled a little bit (in overtime). He tried to throw me and put me on my back and I capitalized on his mistake. Very fortunate,” Dietzen said. “This was my goal coming into this year, win this tournament, win conference and so on. It gives me a big boost, On The Water is a big tournament and it’s a great accomplishment coming out on top.”

The final title of the night went to Oconto Falls heavyweight Dan Ausloos, who pinned Amherst’s Max Villnow with seven seconds left in the opening period.

Ausloos won all five of his matches at the tournament by pin and only had one last beyond the first period.

“It feels pretty good to finish things strong,” said Ausloss, who said he secured the win with an arm spin. “I had a rough start to the year so it feels good to be where I know I can be.”

One of the more interesting non-title winning stories was posted by Fond du Lac freshman Isaac Ortegon, who placed third at 132 pounds.

Ortegon lost in overtime in the semifinals but came back to win a hard-fought decision to get into the third-place match.

“He’s a gritty kid, he wrestled really well,” Fond du Lac coach Joe Rens said. “Unfortunately he lost that one in the semis but I think that motivated him to wrestle back for third. He knows where he’s at and ha a goal in mind.”

In the third-place match Ortegon took a 1-0 lead in the second period with an escape and then rode Fry out the entire third period for the win.

“I felt bigger, stronger and I felt confident in my riding skills that I wouldn’t let him go,” Ortegon said. “There was a couple of times I thought he was going to get away but then I was able to bring him back down to the net.”

Andrew High School of Illinois won the team title with 312.5 points, finishing just ahead of Coleman with 306. Slinger finished a distant third with 218.5 points, followed by Ashwaubenon and Neenah in fourth at 197.5. Campbellsport was sixth with 186, followed by Bonduel (176), Wautoma/Wild Rose ()170.5), , Green Bay Preble (169.5) and Watertown (168.5).